UMaine’s Darling Marine Center to Host International Diving Symposium
Contact: Chris Rigaud, (207) 563-3146 ext. 232 or crigaud@maine.edu
The University of Maine’s Scientific Diving Program will host the 2011 American Academy of Underwater Sciences Symposium, a gathering of international underwater scientists and diving professionals, Oct. 10-15 at UMaine’s Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine, and also at locations in the Portland area.
The AAUS symposium is held to share information and exchange ideas about scientific diving.
“Hosting the AAUS symposium is quite an honor for a university in a state that is not generally known as a scuba diving destination,” said Chris Rigaud, who is the diving safety officer at the Darling Center.
During the Oct. 13-15 pre-symposium sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to dive on Monhegan Island, in coastal locations near the Darling Center, and at Kettle Cove in South Portland. UMaine Professor Robert Steneck and Research Associate Professor Richard Wahle will lead workshops on diver-based suction sampling for collecting newly settled lobsters and quantitative observation of the adult American lobster. Diving industry professionals and members of the AAUS will conduct other instructional courses and equipment demonstrations.
During Oct. 10-13 pre-symposium sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to dive on at the Darling Center, which is located on the shores of the Damariscotta River, and also at Kettle Cove in South Portland; take instruction classes and watch equipment demos; learn about diver-based suction sampling, which is a monitoring tool for newly settled lobsters; and do a quantitative observation of the adult American lobster.
The scientific seminar portion of the program will be held Oct 14-15. UMaine Research Professor Rhian Waller, and graduate students Pamelia Fraungruber, Phoebe Jekielek and Thomas Leeuw will present seminars during the science symposium.
Rigaud is also the lead instructor for UMaine’s Scientific Diving Program, which helps UMaine scientists and students safely and effectively conduct underwater research. Based at the Darling Marine Center, the program has been helping UMaine researchers increase understanding and improve management of the marine and aquatic environment for more than 40 years.
AAUS is dedicated to the development of safe and productive scientific divers through education, research, advocacy, and the advancement of standards for scientific diving practices. Currently, the AAUS community consists of more than 120 international member organizations.
The symposium is not open to the public.